Chapter Four: The Sword Revealed

Not long after leaving the ancestral hall, the sound of a horn echoed down the avenue. Li Ao's footsteps faltered as he turned in disbelief toward the source of the noise. It came from the southern part of Jiu Li City. Such a long and urgent horn blast meant that the enemy was already at the city gates, and a great battle was imminent.

This was a sound he had only ever heard during drills, yet now it was unexpectedly ringing in his ears. Li Ao clenched his fists tightly. He wanted to help, but he knew what he needed to do. Glancing at the bundle in his hand and recalling his grandfather's words, Li Ao hesitated no longer. He turned and ran toward the hidden chamber in the western part of the city, not sparing another glance southward.

He was neither a fool nor reckless. He understood that he could not change the course of this war. Going south would only mean a futile death. Since the enemy was after the legacy, his task was to protect the inheritance he carried and prevent it from falling into enemy hands. He had to avoid this meticulously planned massacre, no, he must avoid it, to ensure his grandfather's efforts were not in vain and to fulfill his mission.

"Survive!" The only thought left in Li Ao's mind was to survive. Survival held value, and only by living could he seek revenge.

He wiped away the tears from his eyes with his sleeve and increased his running speed. As for why the hidden chamber wasn't located within the ancestral hall—if the hall were ever needed, Jiu Li Clan would have already been breached. The ancestral hall would certainly be turned upside down by the enemy, and no hidden chamber could escape such a search.

Thus, the entrance to the hidden chamber was constructed in an inconspicuous courtyard in the western part of the city, connected to a fixed sand dune outside the city by an underground passage.

As Li Ao ran, he heard the sounds of battle growing closer and grew wary. The horn blast had sounded from the south, so why was fighting already happening within the city?

Soon, his questions were answered as he came face-to-face with enemy soldiers. A group of seven or eight Black Armored scoundrels were surrounding a group of toddlers, no more than three or four years old. The children's helpless cries evoked no sympathy from the merciless soldiers, who laughed maniacally and swung their swords. Within moments, more than a dozen children had lost their lives.

Seeing the lifeless bodies of the children, their eyes wide with terror, anger surged through Li Ao. He put away his bundle and stepped forward. Rationality did not mean he lacked emotion.

One punch after another, each strike landing with a sickening crack as bones broke. Despite his Silver-tier status, as the most talented member of the Dragon Rider family, Li Ao's combat abilities far surpassed those of these expendable soldiers.

He fought with his fists, not drawing his sword, as it allowed him to vent the rage building within him. The Black Armored soldiers, who had been laughing, soon lost their grins and fell, screaming, to the ground.

Covered in blood, Li Ao paid it no mind. Thankfully, his grandfather's words echoed in his ears, keeping him resolute as he continued toward the hidden chamber.

Corpses of the elderly and young Jiu Li clansmen, as well as Black Armored soldiers, littered the streets. Walls were stained with splattered flesh, and severed limbs occasionally appeared on the ground. Blood had soaked into the bluestone pavement, leaving dark red stains.

The scene filled Li Ao's starry, dark blue eyes with rage and hatred. The gentle sunlight of the past had vanished from his youthful face, replaced by determination and madness.

"Until the Church is destroyed, my anger will remain!"

Suddenly, Li Ao's expression shifted, and he turned sharply toward the gate of a nearby courtyard. Three Black Armored Judgment soldiers were emerging through the gate. This was a search team tasked with securing the aftermath, scavenging for valuables, and hunting down surviving members of the Jiu Li clan.

There was nowhere to hide in the empty alley. As soon as Li Ao noticed the three soldiers, they spotted him as well. Without hesitation or communication, the three soldiers snarled and drew their swords, advancing on him.

As cleanup personnel, they were unarmed with shields, which made their movements more agile. Li Ao's eyes narrowed. Faced with their aggressive approach, he did not confront them head-on but instead retreated, avoiding their initial ferocious onslaught.

Three high-ranking Silver-tier soldiers, Li Ao silently assessed. The Western continent's cultivation system, which had been passed down through countless ages, was much simpler in naming compared to the more scholarly Eastern cultivation system. Ranks ranged from Bronze to Star Diamond, with above Star Diamond being Divine Favor and Revelation, each tier subdivided into Initial, Intermediate, Advanced, and Pinnacle.

However, since the fall of the seven Dragon Riders in the Revelation realm two thousand years ago, and the Church's promotion of apocalyptic theories, the world had undergone unknown changes. The source power between heaven and earth had dwindled, and advancing in cultivation had become increasingly difficult.

Today, the Gold rank was the endpoint for many, and a high-ranking Silver was considered a master. Li Ao was an Intermediate Silver, but at thirteen years old, his potential was unmatched by the Judgment soldiers.

Unfortunately, in the duel between life and death, talent and potential meant nothing; only current strength mattered. The three Silver-tier soldiers were surprised by Li Ao's ability to evade their combined attacks with such ease.

After their initial shock, excitement gleamed in their eyes. The boy couldn't be more than a teenager, yet his future achievements could reach Star Diamond or higher, while they would likely be stuck at Gold or Silver forever. The thought of this promising young talent dying at their hands stirred a sadistic pleasure in them—a satisfaction born from releasing their jealousy.

Li Ao did not sit idly by. He knew that the aura of genius alone would not ensure his survival, so he chose a more practical approach.

He drew his sword.

The sword from his storage ring was now in Li Ao's grasp. This legendary-quality knight's sword was silvery-white and could be wielded with one or both hands. It was three feet and six inches long, with its hilt carved with swirling snowflakes that lent a touch of elegance to its blade. The silver edge glistened in the sunlight, dazzling and clearly of exceptional quality.

This sword, named Xue Ji, was ranked third among the Jiu Li Clan's weapons and twenty-ninth on the continent's weapon registry. It had accompanied Jiu Li's ancestors in battles for centuries, claiming over a million lives under its blade—an authentic killing weapon.

Possessing a legendary weapon was not just a matter of wealth or power; compatibility was crucial. Weapons chose their wielders as much as wielders chose their weapons. Using a legendary weapon without proper compatibility could not only fail to unleash its full potential but could also backlash against the user. The consequences ranged from fainting to madness or even death.

In the Jiu Li Clan, any child who reached the Bronze rank before the age of eleven was eligible to select a weapon from the clan's treasury. Li Ao advanced to Bronze at the age of nine, and when he entered the treasury, two swords and a spear responded strongly to him. Ultimately, he chose Xue Ji.

The sight of the gleaming sword in Li Ao's hand turned the Black Armored soldiers' expressions from lecherous to greedy. Their breaths grew heavy, their ugly faces contorting with avarice. Their desire to claim the weapon for themselves led them to forgo signaling for reinforcements, a decision that would prove to be their gravest mistake.

Two of the soldiers maneuvered around Li Ao, flanking him on either side to prevent his escape. The prospect of possessing a legendary weapon, even if only to sell it for a fortune, was too tempting. After all, Judgment soldiers could apply for retirement, and worshipping the Holy Light didn't mean they lacked desires; in fact, many were drawn to the Holy Light due to various desires.

With Xue Ji in hand, Li Ao's presence became more imposing, his gaze turning razor-sharp and chilling. It was as if he had returned to the desert, facing not beasts that preyed on the weak but treacherous villains.

He stepped forward swiftly, thrusting Xue Ji upward with a precise strike aimed at the leader's legs. In this life-or-death struggle, Li Ao spared no effort, targeting the most vulnerable area of his foe. To him, these Black Armored invaders who had ravaged his homeland and slaughtered his kin were no different from the ferocious beasts of the desert. Killing them brought no discomfort or guilt.

The three Judgment soldiers were no mere fodder. As the Church's elite force, their combat prowess was among the best within their rank. The trio, a search team tasked with mopping up, were particularly formidable.

Li Ao's sword strike was met by the right-hand soldier's blade, deflected with a clang. The leader, narrowly avoiding the blow, felt a cold sweat forming on his brow. He cursed inwardly, "This kid is ruthless!"

Although the attack was blocked, the impact was not without consequence. The standard-issue blade of the right-hand soldier shattered into two pieces with a loud clang, the fragments falling to the ground. A weapon with a rank like Xue Ji was not to be underestimated.

Not wanting to be outdone, the left-hand soldier seized the moment when Li Ao's sword was momentarily engaged, striking toward Li Ao's right shoulder. He chose a tricky angle and timing, leaving Li Ao no chance to parry with his sword. Even if he managed to pull back his arm, the strike would likely injure his right arm, making swordplay difficult.

As the left-hand soldier grinned with satisfaction, Li Ao moved. His speed outmatched any beast's claws or fangs. Having survived for over forty days in the desert as a wolf exterminator, Li Ao had perfected the technique of wielding a sword with both hands, effortlessly combining offense and defense.

With a flick of his wrist, Li Ao deftly transferred Xue Ji to his left hand. The sword swept horizontally in a flash, meeting the incoming blade. The soldier's weapon broke under the force of the legendary sword, just like the right-hand soldier's.

Retreating two steps, Li Ao escaped the trio's encirclement, taking a moment to catch his breath. He returned Xue Ji to his right hand and drew a steel-crafted serpent dagger from his waist.

Li Ao's gaze shifted from fierce to calm, his breathing steadying as he fixed his eyes intently on the three Black Armored soldiers in front of him. The soldiers understood the message in Li Ao's eyes: the real battle was just beginning.

Yet, even now, the soldiers had no intention of calling for reinforcements. The more powerful the Xue Ji sword proved to be, the more they wanted to claim it for themselves. Their greed had driven them into an abyss of their own making. They refused to believe that three seasoned veterans could be bested by a mere boy, even with a legendary weapon in his hands. It was akin to the confidence of a dragon rider thinking they could never lose, or perhaps the misguided belief that an economic deficit of five thousand could still turn the tide.

Li Ao, now dual-wielding, entered his optimal state. This was the state that had allowed him to hunt Silver Pinnacle beasts in the past. His mind raced as he analyzed the positioning of the three soldiers, searching for the perfect moment to strike.

The soldier still wielding a long knife, the leader, charged forward first. His charge was formidable, his blade glowing with a fierce light.

It was a basic warrior skill—Raging Charge.

Li Ao's eyes flickered, and he moved. Even though the three soldiers hadn't called for help, Li Ao knew he had to end this quickly. The current situation in Jiu Li City was chaotic with the vanguard troops everywhere; he couldn't afford to be bogged down here.

The Xue Ji sword flashed with afterimages, and a phantom of a azure dragon appeared around Li Ao.

Dragon Battle in the Wild—a secret technique of the Dragon Knights.

His calm demeanor masked a hidden ferocity, not just towards his enemies but towards himself as well. His field of vision narrowed to the advancing leader. Li Ao's sword collided heavily with the leader's long knife.

The two soldiers flanking on the left and right sides closed in, their half-destroyed long knives slashing at Li Ao. The leader, seeing his comrades' fierce attacks, couldn't help but grin with satisfaction. The three soldiers were supporting each other, and Li Ao could only defend, unable to retaliate.

However, the leader's smile quickly turned to horror. "Madman!" he shouted, "Madman! You're a madman!"

His eyes widened in a mix of fear and rage as he yelled. Li Ao remained composed, showing no sign of wavering. He ignored the attacking blades on either side.

With a crisp sound of breaking steel, Li Ao remained unperturbed. He charged directly into the leader, driving the blade of Xue Ji into the leader's abdomen.

Before the leader's broken blade even hit the ground, Li Ao's left hand whipped around, and the serpent-shaped dagger struck precisely into the leader's heart.

Life rapidly ebbed from the leader's body. His pupils dilated as he repeated the thought of "madman" in his mind, no longer exuding any arrogance.

With the dagger embedded in the leader's chest, the two soldiers' blades fell upon Li Ao.

The sound of shattering glass rang out as the azure dragon phantom around Li Ao met the broken knives. Under the combined force of the two soldiers, the dragon phantom dissipated into countless glowing specks.

Li Ao staggered, intense pain causing him to grit his teeth, his face contorted in agony, and a bitter, coppery taste filled his mouth. Forcing himself to swallow the rising blood, his complexion turned as pale as paper.

Using the Dragon Battle in the Wild, a technique that combined both offense and defense, had proved too taxing at his current Silver Intermediate level. The technique enhanced speed and strength while the dragon phantom could absorb attacks. However, it consumed a significant amount of source power, and damage to the phantom was directly reflected back onto the user, making it almost as painful as a stab to the chest.

The fallen leader, seeing that Li Ao had withstood his comrades' attack, used his remaining strength to retrieve a distress signal device from his chest. As he activated the source power to send out the signal, it broadcasted in all directions.

With his final act, the leader looked at the pale-faced Li Ao with a smile. He knew he was dying, and he wanted Li Ao to die alongside him.